Locking ring for container closures



J. R. PRoc'roR' LOCKING'RING FOR CONTAINER CLOSURES Filed June 17, 1939 ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 2, 1941 LOCKING 1mm Foa CONTAINER CLOSURES John R. Proctor, Bayonne, N. J. Applica'tiofiune 17, 1939, Serial No. 279,693 5 Claims. '(ci. 220-61) This invention relatesto new and useful improvements in container closures, and relates more particularly to an improved closure structure for effecting a fluid tight seal between a container and a closure therefor, the invention constituting an improvement in the structure disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 265,960.

In my co-pending application, I described anovel locking ring for securing a closure to a metallic container, such container being of a conventional type and being formed with an outwardly turned, annular bead or chime at the upperor open end thereof, such bead being substantially semi-circular in transverse section. The closure structure adapted for use with such container is also of more or less conventional construction and comprises a flat disc of such size as to fit the open end of the container, the disc having an annular bead around the periphery thereof, such bead resting upon and engaging the bead on the container; an annularwasher preferably being positioned between the two beads. I

The locking device which was the subject of my earlier application included an annular split ring, such'ring being substantially semi-circular in transverse section and of such size as to substantially enclose the heading on both the container and the closure member. Toggle means were provided for drawingthe ends of the ring into substantial meeting engagement, thereby firmly securing the closure to the container and effecting a tight seal therebetween.

The present invention is directed primarily to an improvement in such locking ring and particularly to the means for drawing the ends of the ring together, such means comprising a locking member having a pair of links, pivotally secured adjacent to the terminals of the locking ring and when such locking member is moved in the direction of the locking ring, the links cause the ends of the ring to come in by virtue of a toggle arrangement. It is one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide means for adjusting the link action so as to obtain a fluid tight seal, especially in instances wherein the size of the container or the closure therefor varies from given standards.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an adjustable means for the links which will permit such links to be actuated with considerably more ease than would be the case if all the link pivots were fixed.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a. locking ring of this character wherein no portions will project beyond the periphery of the ring when the'locking elements are in locked position which permits the barrel to be rolled in .a straight line.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved split locking ring employing a toggle action wherein the locking elements may be actuated with a minimum of effort and wherein adjustment of the locking means may be effected either before or after the parts have been moved into locking position.

- Yet anotheagbject of the present invention is to provide a novel locking ring wherein all the operative parts thereof are positioned inside the outer periphery thereof, even when in unlocked position and there are, accordingly, no projecting parts which might injure a person should he come in contact with the same.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a broken top plan view of a conven .tional metallic container with a conventional closure member in place thereon, the view showing the preferred embodimentof the present invention in locked position thereon;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, the view showing the position of the parts in unlocked position;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partially in section, of the locking ring in locked position;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line. 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a broken top plan view of the locking member; a

Fig. 7 is a vertical, section taken on line '|'I of Fig.6; and

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the locking membar, a portion of the adjusting screw being broken away.

A conventional metallic container I0 is illustrated'in the drawing, said container having an outwardly turned annular head or chime H integrally formed with the upper edge thereof. The closure member I2 is circular in shape and is provided with an upstanding vertical flange portion [4, which flange portion terminates in an outwardly turned annular bead -l-5- whichis semicircular in transverse section, as shown in Figs.

4 and 5. The external diameter of the vertical annular flange portion I4 is such as to relatively closeiy fit within the interior of the upper end I of the container, also as shown in these figures.

when the container is used to ship fluid materials, such as oil, tar, paint and the like, an annular gasket H is placed upon and may be secured to the upper surface of the bead II at the upper end of the container, and such gasket is positioned between this bead and the lower surface of the bead l5 of the closure member,

The preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a split annular locking ring which is substantially semi-circular in transverse section, the ring being of such dimensions relative to the diameter of the container and the closure therefor as to have its terminals 'Zl in substantial meeting engagement when the ring is locked in place, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. This ring is also of such cross-sectional shape as to substantially completely enclose the beading H and I5 of the container and closure, respectively, the upper surface of the ring being substantially flat, as indicated at 22, all as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5. It will thus be apparent that as the opposed terminals 2| of the ring are drawn tightly towards each other, the closure member is brought downwardly into firm engagement with the container, thus effecting a tight seal therebetween.

At each terminal 2| of the ring, a downwardly depending lug is preferably integrally formed with the lower edge of such terminal portion of the ring. If desired, however, this lug may be formed as a separate piece and may be welded or otherwise secured to each terminal portion of the ring. Each lug is formed with an aperture 26 and a link 21 is pivotally secured to the vertical surface of the lug by means of a pin 29, which passes through such aperture 26.

The locking member 30 is substantially U- shaped in transverse section, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 7. In order to closely fit the side of the container ID, the locking member is also curved throughout its length, as shown in Fig. 6. At the left hand end of the locking member 30, aligned apertures 32 are formed and a pin 33 passing through such apertures also, passes through an aperture 3| in the link. The right hand link 28 is pivotally mounted on the right hand lug 25 by means of a pin 28 and this link is pivotally mounted at its opposite end in a movable, bifurcated block 34. In transverse section, this block or link adjuster 34 is of such dimensions as to be received relatively snugly between the two walls of the locking member 30 and to be longitudinally movable thereof. Also, to prevent such block from casual removal from the locking member, such member is formed at its right hand terminal with a pair of inwardly turned ears 36, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7; Also, the outer terminal of the locking member is substantially closed by means of the inwardly turned flanges 38 which are shown in Fig. 8. In order to permit the screw 40 to pass into the locking member, the lower portion of this end wall is enlarged as shown at 4|. Longitudinal vertical recess 43 is formed at the left end of the block 34 and a pin 44, passing through aligned apertures 45 in the block forms a pivot for the right hand end of the link 28. Whereas the pin 29 is flattened at both ends, as shown in Fig. 4, the pin 44 is not flattened at its ends since the opposed walls of the locking member 30 prevent longitudinal movement of the pin, as shown in Fig. 3.

The following means are Provided for adjusting the block. A screw 48 having a head 49 and an annular recess or reduced portion 50 adjacent to the bead passes into a threaded horizontal aperture 5| in the block. A plate 53 having a shortslot 54 is positioned in the recess between the walls of the locking member 30 and abuts against the walls formed by the flanges 38, the recessed portion 50 of the screw being positioned within the slot 54,

The lugs 25 may be formed with apertures 56 and the exterior wall of the locking member 30 may be formed with an aperture 51, and when it is desired to put a seal on the container, a length of wire is run through these three apertures and after the locking member has been moved into place, the wire may be drawn taut and any conventional seal secured to the terminals thereof.

It is quite apparent that many structural modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention asdefined by the appended claims. As was pointed out earlier in the application, the lugs 25 may be formed separately and secured to the terminals 2| of the ring by means of heating or otherwise. Furthermore, the ring 20 may be made in any suitable shape in transverse section to fit any desired shape of container and cover. Nor is the invention limited to locking rings for containers of the type described, inasmuch as it may also be employed in smaller containers for food and other articles. It will also be apparent that the locking member 30 may be made in some form other than the channeled construction shown and described. For instance, a flat strip may be employed, such strip being bent to conform generally to the periphery of the container.

What I claim is:

1. A split locking ring adapted to secure a cover to a container and means for drawing the terminals of such ring into substantial meeting engagement, such means comprisinga downwardly projecting lug positioned adjacent each terminal of the ring. a link pivotally secured at one end thereof to each lug and a manually actuated locking member for actuating said links, one of the links being pivotally secured at one end to said locking member, a movable block carried by the locking member, such block being pivotally connected to the second link, and means for adjusting the position of the block relative to the locking member.

2. A split locking ring adapted to secure a closure to a container and means for drawing the terminals of the ring into. substantially meeting engagement to effect a firm seal between closure and container, said means comprising a downwardly depending lug positioned adjacent each terminal of the ring, such lugs lying at a plane substantially parallel with the side walls of the container and lying inside the outer periphery of the ring, a fiat elongated link pivotally secured at one end thereof to each lug, a channeled locking member operatively connected at opposite ends thereof to each link, one link being pivotally secured to the locking member, and a movable block carried at the opposite end of the locking member, the second link being pivotally secured at one end to said block and screw means for moving the block relative to the locking member.

3. A split locking ring adapted to secure a closure to a container and toggle means fordrawing the terminals of the ring into substantial meeting engagement to effect a firm seal between closure and container, said means comprising a downwardly depending lug secured adjacent each terminal of the ring, such lugs lying inside the outer periphery of the ring, a fiat link pivotally secured at one end thereof to each lug, a channeled locking member operatively connected at opposite ends thereof to each link, one link being pivotally secured to the locking member, and a v movable block carried in the locking member at the opposite end thereof, the second link being pivotally secured at one end to said block and 1 nally movable link supporting element carried at the opposite end of the locking member, the second link being pivotally secured at one end to element.

said block, a screw mounted inthe end wall of the locking member for adjusting the link supporting element.

5. In a split locking ring adapted to secure a closure member to a container, the combination of toggle means for moving'the terminals of the ring into.,.substantial meeting engagement, said means comprising a link pivotally secured adjacent each end of the ring, a vertically movable lockingmember lying inside the outer periphery of the locking ring, one of such links being pivotally secured adjacent one end of the locking member, and a longitudinally movable link-supporting element carried at the opposite end of the locking member, the second link being pivotally secured at one end thereof to'said supporting JOHN R. PROCTOR. 

